THE LOCATION • Dallas, Texas • The site is directly across the street from White Rock Park and is on one of the highest elevations in the City of Dallas, it is approximately 100’ above the surface of White Rock Lake, which is only about 1,000 feet away to the southwest.
THE DESIGN CONCEPT • A primary goal for this house was to design & build a modern residence that has a unique character, responds to its specific location/orientation and employs the construction technologies that are readily available, but not often used in current residential construction. • With the site both highly elevated, and with its long axis aligned directly with the City street grid to the Southwest, the house was oriented to take advantage of the outstanding views across the lake, over the trees and to the City. • Primary living areas were elevated to take advantage of the views and to separate them from the street traffic activity below. • Extensive use of overhangs and porches shield windows from direct sunlight, (reducing energy costs) while still capturing natural light and not obstructing the beautiful views. • The roof deck above serves as a solar screen to the insulated single-ply membrane roof below, which reduces energy costs and extends the life of the roof itself. • The house is intended to express those things from which it is built, with concrete floors, exposed steel structure, pre-manufactured steel modules, masonry and glass as primary elements.
THE CONSTRUCTION • Concrete pier & beam foundation • Ground level polished concrete floors • Structural Steel primary superstructure (columns & beams) with supplemental Parallel Strand Lumber (PSL) beams at roof deck level • Pre-manufactured Steel Modules are a part of the primary structural system • 2x6 perimeter stud wall framing with a combination of closed and open cell spray-on insulation • Stack bonded CMU masonry veneer at ground level with a modular brick masonry veneer tower • Double insulated, high performance glazing systems (aided in their performance by substantial roof and porch overhangs to shade the glazing from direct sunlight for the majority of the day throughout all seasons) • High performance Heating and Air-conditioning systems • Low water consumption plumbing fixtures
THE METRICS • Single Family Residence • Two-Story plus small penthouse (roof deck access) • Approximately 3,700 SF • 3 Bedroom + Den, 3.5 Bathrooms • Ground Level Entertainment Area • 2 Car Garage + Storage Bay • Porte Cochere • Large Roof Deck with panoramic view • Elevated covered porches adjacent to main living areas
